Articles

Less meal, earlier finishing and more profit – the benefits of companion forages

Less meal, earlier finishing and more profit – the benefits of companion forages Are you looking to grow your lambs quicker, achieve an earlier age of finish and reduce concentrate input to finishing lambs? Then results of a major study undertaken at the Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry […]
18 February 2025

Valuing slurry – the importance of testing

Valuing slurry – the importance of testing Organic manures such as slurry are a very valuable resource. Not only can they boost soil fertility, but when used effectively, they can allow for considerable savings on chemical fertiliser spend. Joining Cathal Somers and Deirdre Glynn on a recent episode of the Environment Edge […]
18 February 2025

Multispecies swards and reduced nitrogen: A win-win for dairy farming

Multispecies swards and reduced nitrogen: A win-win for dairy farming Looking to boost milk yield while cutting back on costly fertilisers? Eimear Ferguson, Science Communication and Engagement Officer at Teagasc, explains how new research from the Grassland Science Department at Teagasc Moorepark shows that incorporating diverse pasture species can achieve just that. […]
17 February 2025

More for less – the importance of early spring grazing

More for less – the importance of early spring grazing Early spring grazing takes effort. Fences, back fences, going out for cows after three hours when on-off grazing is practiced, so why bother? Dairy Specialist at Teagasc, Stuart Childs reminds us of its importance – both in terms of production and farm […]
17 February 2025

Farm-to-farm sourcing a must for this Meath dairy-beef producer

Farm-to-farm sourcing a must for this Meath dairy-beef producer Animal performance on Aidan Maguire’s DairyBeef 500 farm in Co. Meath starts on day one, the day on which he purchases his calves. In this article, Dr. Siobhán Kavanagh, Signpost Programme Communications and Engagement Specialist, and Fergal Maguire, Advisor on the Teagasc DairyBeef […]
17 February 2025

Sit down and examine your costs

Sit down and examine your costs Before the main spring cropping season kicks into gear, tillage farmers have been encouraged to sit down and examine their costs of production. Helping in this regard is the Teagasc Crops and Returns 2025 publication, available to download on the Teagasc website. When used to examine […]
17 February 2025

Clonakilty victorious at 2025 Colleges Challenges Day

Clonakilty victorious at 2025 Colleges Challenges Day Eight teams from agricultural, equine and horticultural colleges gathered in Clonakilty Agricultural College on Wednesday, February 12 for the 2025 Macra and Teagasc Colleges Challenges Day. Colleges Challenges Day – a highlight in the education calendar year – featured competitions in stock judging, tractor driving, […]
17 February 2025

Preparation is key to a successful lambing season

Preparation is key to a successful lambing season James Fitzgerald discusses the key to a successful 2025 lambing season. With preparation, proper nutrition, colostrum management, and strict hygiene, you can reduce stress and ensure healthier lambs. In the next month, a large proportion of lowland sheep flocks will start their lambing season. […]
16 February 2025

Detecting chromosomal abnormalities in cattle

Detecting chromosomal abnormalities in cattle DNA information collected at birth can now be used to detect chromosomal abnormalities in livestock, helping avoid the costs and challenges of rearing infertile cattle. Chromosomal abnormalities in humans, such as having an extra or a missing chromosome, are known to cause various genetic disorders – many […]
16 February 2025

Agroforestry – integrating farming and forestry

Agroforestry – integrating farming and forestry The Agroforestry option in the National Forestry Programme offers benefits including dual income streams, carbon sequestration and extended grazing/ forage opportunities. Paul Butler and Padraic O’Leary tell us more. As part of Ireland’s Forestry Programme (2023-2027), the Forest Type 8 (FT8) Agroforestry option promotes the sustainable […]
16 February 2025